YWCA Greenwich Honors 2025 Women Who Inspire

YWCA Greenwich hosted the 7 Annual Women Who Inspire Awards on Wednesday, March 5 at Greenwich Country Club.

The cocktail reception honored 11 exceptional women: Elizabeth Koldyke Boolbol; Carmen E. Hughes; Alyssa Keleshian; Kirsten Lawrence, MD, MSCE; Alessandra M. Messineo Long, Esq.; Marie Rocha; Meg Russell; Tracy Schietinger; Brianna Siegel, MD; Kathryn Webster; and Dr. Maggie Young.

Also honored were three 2025 Next Generation Women Who Inspire Award winners: Lindsey Deering Gaynor, a senior from Greenwich Academy; Zara Haque, a senior from Greenwich High School; and Brianna McDermott, a senior from Greenwich Country Day School.

Greenwich Pediatric Dental Group, LLC, represented by Dr. Stacy Zarakiotis, Dr. Emily Gabeler and Dr. Marissa Ruggiero, received the Women Who Inspire Corporate Award for their outstanding leadership in developing women’s empowerment in the Greenwich community.

“We are so proud to honor these women and shine a light on them and their accomplishments, especially during Women’s History Month. Past and present winners have shaped this community’s businesses, schools, non-profits, and key initiatives. We thank everyone who supported the event and showed their love for not only YWCA Greenwich’s vital programs, but for our exceptional honorees, as well,” said YWCA Greenwich President and CEO Mary Lee Kiernan.

YWCA Greenwich has a storied history of honoring extraordinary women within the community, including the BRAVA Awards, established in 1977 to recognize professional women, the Spirit of Greenwich Awards which started in 1994 to honor volunteers, and the Women Who Inspire Awards which began in 2019 to recognize all women and the fluidity in today’s work/life balance. The Women Who Inspire Awards were established to recognize and celebrate outstanding women in our community who have excelled in philanthropic, professional, and volunteer pursuits.

Thank you to the 2025 Women Who Inspire Awards co chairs: Shari E. Aser; Anna Cerra, DNP, MSN, MS; Andrea Douglas, MD, FAANS, FACS; Kasha Konopka; and Elaine Ubiña.

Founded in 1919, YWCA Greenwich is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. YWCA Greenwich provides programs for people of all ages and genders with initiatives that include preschool and after school programs, aquatics programs, youth athletics, health and fitness programs and seminars focusing on racial justice and women’s empowerment.

Additionally, YWCA Greenwich is the only provider of both domestic and sexual violence services in Greenwich, with staff who are licensed to provide crisis intervention, counseling, shelter, and victim advocacy. These services are free.